"Brave New World" and "1984": Comparison of the Depiction of Power and Control

Introduction

Christian Nestell Bovee once said, 'No one is happy without a delusion of some kind. Delusions are as necessary to our happiness as realities.' Bovee's quote applies to the dystopian genre, as evident in Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World and George Orwell's film 1984, both of which explore how governments exert power and control. The societies depicted in Brave New World and 1984 differ significantly. In Brave New World, the World State exercises subtler and more insidious control and manipulation compared to The Party in 1984. The concept of the Panopticon serves as an analogy for power and control in these societies. This concept is applicable to both Brave New World and 1984, which are compared in this essay.

Brave New World and 1984: a Comparison

In Brave New World, citizens are strongly discouraged from spending time alone. During a conversation with John the Savage, a doctor tells him, 'If our young people need distraction, they can get it at the feelies. We don't encourage them to indulge in any solitary amusements' (163). The World State discourages solitude because it allows for deeper thinking and makes it difficult for the government to regulate people's activities. Consequently, all solitary activities are prohibited and viewed with disgust. Lenina's friend Fanny Crowne remarks, 'He spends most of his time by himself alone' (45). The state of solitude is abolished, and its enjoyment is seen as an example of power and control. By always forcing people to be in the company of others, the World State ensures constant visibility of its citizens.

In 1984, The Party employs the idea of the Panopticon in a more literal manner. Telescreens are installed in public establishments as well as the homes of every citizen. These telescreens cannot be turned off during sleep, resulting in citizens being under constant surveillance, mirroring the Panopticon concept. The main protagonist, Winston Smith, reflects, 'It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within range of the telescreen. The smallest thing could give you away. A nervous tic, an unconscious look of anxiety, a habit of muttering to yourself...' (62). The consistent presence of the telescreen makes it nearly impossible for citizens to act against the government. Even expressions of individuality, such as sex, are strictly prohibited and controlled. As mentioned, 'The Party was trying to kill the sex instinct, or, if it could not be killed, then to distort it and dirty it' (Orwell, 57). Thus, both governments employ power and control, but in Brave New World, citizens believe solitude to be abhorrent without realizing that this belief has been instilled in them by the government. In contrast, the citizens of 1984 are aware of the telescreens and their purpose.

Both governments in Brave New World and 1984 understand that controlling the children means controlling the future. In Brave New World, the antagonist Mustapha Mond aims to build a society through the brainwashing of its citizens. The World State employs hypnopedia to condition its citizens to believe in the system. For instance, children assigned to the Beta caste listen to the following as they sleep, 'Oh no, I don't want to play with Delta children, and Epsilons are still worse. They're too stupid to be able to read or write... I'm so glad I'm a Beta' (27). This method prevents citizens from critically evaluating their surroundings, inhibiting them from contemplating the cruelty of enforced divisions. Moreover, when citizens experience emotional discomfort, they are encouraged to take 'soma,' a hallucinogenic drug. Soma acts as an alternate reality where people escape their problems and avoid deep thinking about anything positive.

In 1984, The Party alters and destroys newspapers, photographs, and other evidence of the past to fit its agenda. People are conditioned not to question anything the Party claims; if the Party says it, it must be true. Citizens forget inconvenient information and accept that there is no objective reality. For example, when the Party declares that Oceania is at war with Eurasia, despite claiming the opposite just a day earlier, citizens simply believe what they are told. The Party has the power to openly alter reality and relies on the citizens' practice of doublethink. The World State, however, employs a less noticeable form of brainwashing that occurs while citizens sleep. The Party imposes itself on the people, while the World State leads its citizens to believe that their ideas and beliefs are their own. Additionally, in Brave New World, the World State acts as a kind of savior by providing soma, which allows people to escape their problems. Thus, the government facilitates and encourages ignorance. In contrast, The Party in 1984 requires its citizens to constantly adapt to new truths.

Conclusion

In conclusion, in Brave New World, the World State prioritizes power and control over happiness. For example, soma inhibits awareness but guarantees happiness, and the World State would never jeopardize its citizens' happiness. On the other hand, The Party in 1984 prioritizes power and control through constant surveillance. Telescreens monitor citizens' every movement and thought, ensuring pervasive control.